Control mechanism



April 15, 1`924. 1,490,587'

J. L.. BRUNTON ET AL CONTROL MECHANISM Filved Feb. l0 1920 4 Sheets-Sheety 'l April 15 1924. 1,490,587

J. L. BRUNTON ET AL CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Feb. lO 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 w Q MQ Erwg- April 15 1924.

April 15 ,-1924, 1,490,587

' J. L. BRUNTCN ET AL CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Feb. 10 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 'f6'. O Q

Patented Apr. 15, 1324.

STATES PATENT erstes.

JOHN LOCKHART BRUN'TON AND WILLIAM BATON BRUNTON, 0F LONDON, ENGLAND.

CGNTROL MECHANISM.

Application filed February 10, 1920. Serial No. 357,728.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN LOGKHART BRUNTON and W'ILLIAM PA'roN BRUNTON, subjects of the King of Great Britain, both residing at 17 St. Stephens House, Victoria Embankment, London, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Control Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to control mechanism preferably used in connection with hydraulic means for controlling the steering gear of ships, the moving parts of aeroplanes, the valves of engines and other like purposes.

According to this invention a Bowden wire is connected to an operating handle and passing through a Bowden casing is connected to a moving part of the engine, while the casing engages with a control valve, being either connected thereto or abutting thereagainst. The Bowden casingr or the part thereof engaging with the valve is anchored at one end, while the end which engages the valve is capable of moving. The length of the casing connecting the fixed anchorage to the movable one is normall7 greater than the distance between them so that the casing is curved or looped. When f tension is applied to the Bowden wire, this tends to straighten the casing and produces a movement of the movable end thereof.

This movable end is preferably connected to a tube which telescopes into a fixed tube and acts as a guide. The Bowden wire may be connected to the piston of a power cylinder while the casing engages a valve controlling the admissionof water or steam to the cylinder. n

Then the Bowden wire is moved in one direction by the operating handle the Bowden casing moves the control valve in a corresponding direction allowing water or steam to pass to one end of the power cylinder. This causes the piston to move and moves the Bowden wire in an opposite direction, and allows the valve control lever to be moved to a neutral position.

In another arrangement a Bowden wire passing through an anchorage and a tube fixed thereto may be led to the piston rod of a power cylinder, and one end of a Bowden casing may engage a link at the end of another tube telescoping into the first, while the other end of the casing is connected to a fixed anchorage. The link is connected to another Bowden wire which passes through an anchorage and a tube fixed thereto and is connected to an arm adapted to be moved when excessive strain in the parts operated occurs. One end of the casing of this second Bowden wire operates a control valve while the other end is connected to an anchorage. A constant pressure is applied to the valve lever tending to maintain the Bowden casing in compression.

Gr in similar fashion the Bowden wire may be connected to a valve controlling the admissionof motive power to the power cylinder, and the casing may engage a link to which is connected a second Bowden wire which is connected to the piston rod of the power cylinder or to an arm moved when excessive strain occurs. The casing of the second Bowden wire engages a control valve.

The annexed drawings illustrate apparatus made in accordance with this invention.

Figure 1 shows an arrangement of control gear especially adapted for use on aeroplanes.

Figure 2 shows an arrangement of control gear adapted for use on large aircraft or on ships.

Figure 3 is an extended view, somewhat diagrammatic in character, of the invention. The sections of this ligure should be read from right to left.

Figure 3a is a similar view showing the arrangement. of the various parts of the device.`

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, an operating handle 10 has securedv thereto a Bowden wire 11 and a telescopic tube 101 which slides within a tube 102. A spring 103 within these tubes tends to press the handle 10 to the right. An anchorage 104 is provided to which are secured the tube 102 and the Bowden casing 12.

Another anchorage 13 (Figures 1, 2 and 3) is suitably located and secured thereto is a tube` 131 which telescopes into a tube 132 connected to a link 133. The other end of the casing 12 is also connected to the anchorage 13. Engaging with the link 133 is a Bowden wire 15. Also secured to the link 133 is a tube`1331 which telescopes into a tube 1332 securedto an anchorage 17. A

.spring 1333 is located within the tubes 1331 and 1332.

Secured at one end tothe anchorage 17 is a casing 16 for the Bowden wire 15, and this casing is secured at its other end to an anchorage 18. Secured to this anchorage is a tube 181 into which telescopes a tube 182 secured to one end of the valve lever 14. Also engaging the valve lever 14 is one end of a Bowden casing 161, which has a loop therein. The other end of this casing 161 is secured to an anchorage 19. In this anchorage is secured a tube 191 into which telescopes a tube 192 connected to one end of a lever 2O which is actuated by the movement of a hydraulic cylinder 21 in a frame as hereinafter set forth.

The Bowden wire 11 after passing through the link 133 is secured to the end of a lever 22 actuated by the piston rod 211 of the hydraulic cylinder 21 (Figure 1). A Bowden casing 121 surrounding the wire 11 is secured at one end to the telescopic tube 132 and at its other end to an anchorage 23. This stretch of casing 121 also has a looped part. Also secured to the anchorage 23 is a tube 231 into which telescopes a tube 232 secured to the lever 22.

When the lever 14 is moved to the right or left, water is admitted through pipes 141 or 142 to either the right or lett hand end of the cylinder 21 causing the piston rod 211 to move to the left or right respectively, thereby moving one or the other of the wires 212 leading to the rudder of an aeroplane or any other part that it is desired to move.

#The cylinder 21 is mounted on a frame 213 and is maintained in a central position by springs 214. The frame 213 is secured to stanchions or the like by wires 2131. Whenever the strain is excessive on the wire 212, the tension of one or the other of the springs 214 is overcome, moving the cylinder in the frame 213 and the lever 20.

Considering the above described structure with particular relation to Figures 1 and 3, the operation is as follows:

When the operating handle 16 is moved to the right, the Bowden wire 11 is tensioned. The casing 121 contains a loop portion A, as shown in Figure 3, and the wire 11 bears against the lower side of the loop as illustrated. This casing 121 is attached at one end to a fixed anchorage 23 and at its other end to a movable tube 132. The tension on the wire 11 will therefore flatten out the loop A to a greater or less extent. Since the casing is firmly anchored at one end, this will move the tube 132. The tube 132, as has been stated, is carried by link 133, which will move therewith. To this link is attached the wire 15 which will accordingly be tensioned.

Since the casing 161 contains a loop at B such as described, and this casing is attached to a lixed anchorage 19 at one end and engages the movable valve lever 14 at its other end, a pull on the wire 15 will tend to straighten the casing 161 and thus move the valve lever 14 to the right, admitting water under induence of the various springs and the constant pressure or water on the valve which tends to move the lever 14 to the left. The valve lever therefore returns to neutral position.

The fundamental idea of the operation is to have a loop portion of the Bowden wire casing iirmly anchored at one end and fastened at the other end to a movable part. The first oliect of a straightening of the wire in said casing will be to flatten out the loop and therefore transmit movement to the movable part that is attached to the. other end or" the casing. rlhese loop portions may be placed as desired in the line of transmission.

Referring now to the embodiment o the invention illustrated in Figure 2 (diagranr matically in Figure 3), it is round to be similar in the main featureswith some additional details.

ln this forni the lever 14 operates the control valve which allows water to pass through o-ne or the other of the pipes 143 or 144 which lead to opposite sides o'f a piston contained in a cylinder 24. This piston is connected to a slide valve in a cylinder 25 which permits water to pass through one or other of the pipes 251 or 252 leading to opposite ends of an hydraulic cylinder 26 having a piston rod 261 connected to the part to be moved. ln this case the lever 22 shown in the diagram in Figure 3 is connected to the slide valve in the cylinder 25. The lever 2O is actuated by bevelled pinions 201 and 202, the latter being mounted on a threaded shaft 203 turned by a nut 204 on the piston rod 261. The cylinder 26 is mounted in a frame 27 by means of rods 271 which have springs 27 2 at their ends. l/Vhen the cylinder 26 moves in the frame (under excessive strain) it actuates a lever 28. This lever 28 is connected to the end of the Bowden wire 15 after it passes through the end of the lever 20. A Bowden casing 162, which has' a loop portion at C, is attached at one end to an anchorage 29 and at its other end it engages the lever 20. To the anchorage 29 is also attached a tube 291 into which telescopes a tube 292 secured to the lever 28, and a spring 293 is mounted in the tubes 291 and 292.

It will therefore be seen that besides the control exercised by the lever 22 connected to the slide valve (which operation is similar to that described above with reference to the embodiment of Figure l), control is also exercised by the levers 20 and 28; the lever 20 being actuated by the piston of the hydraulic cylinder 26, and the lever 28 being actuated by the movement of the hydraulic cylinder 26 when the strain on the parts is suilicient to compress one or the other of the springs 272. When the tension on the Bowden lwires is slackened by either of these means, the valve lever is moved to its neutral position.

Compensating devices 30, 31 and 32 may be provided in the Bowden casings 121, 161 and 162 respectively, although these may be dispensed with. These compensating devices have the construction shown at in Figure 3, and comprise telescopic tubes with a spring within them. They tend to take up the shock of sudden movements and cause movement in either direction to be transmitted more smoothly.

It is obvious that when the control lever 10 is moved to the left, the Bowden wire will be tensioned still more and the Bowden casing will form a greater loop, moving the free end thereof in the opposite direction. The remainder of the operation of the device will be obvious from the description above.

What we claim is 1. Control mechanism for a power device comprising a wire connected at one end to a moving part of said power device, operating means connected to the other end of the wire, a flexible casing for Said wire having a loop, a xed anchorage for one end of the casing, and a connection between the other end of the casing and a member which governs the operation of said power device.

2. Control mechanism for a power device comprising a wire connected at one end to a moving part of said power device, operating means connected to the other end of the wire, a flexible casing for said wire of greater length than the wire, a fixed anchorage for one end of the casing, the other end o? the casing being free to move and being connected to a member which governs the operation of said power device.

3. Co-ntrol mechanism for a power device comprising a wire connected at one end to a moving part of said power device, operating means connected to the other end of the wire,

a flexible casing for said wire having a loop, a ixed anchorage for one end of said casing, a movable anchorage for the other end of the casing, and a second wire connected to said movable anchorage and to another art of the power device.

4. ontrol mechanism for a power device comprising a wire connected at one end to a moving part of said power device, operating means connected to the other end of the wire, a flexible casing for said wire having a loop, a fixed anchorage for one end of said casing, a movable anchorage for the other end of the casing, a second wire connected to said movable anchorage, a similar casing for this wire having a loop and a fixed anchorage, and a connection between the movable end of the second casing and a member which governs the operation of said power device.

5. Control mechanism for a power device having a cylinder and piston movable therein comprising a wire, a connection between one end of the wire and the piston, operating means connected to the other end of the wire, a easing for said wire having a loop, a fixed anchorage for one end of the casing, a movable anchorage for the other end of the casing, a second wire connected to the movable anchorage, a casing for the second wire having a loop therein and a iixed anchorage, and a connection between the movable end of the second casing and a valve controlling admission of power to the cylinder.

6. Control mechanism for a power device having a cylinder and piston movable therein comprising a wire, a connection between one end of the wire and the piston, operating means connected to the other end of the wire, a casing for said wire having a loop, a iixed anchorage for one end of the casing, a movable anchorage for the other end of the casing, a second wire connected to the movable anchorage, a casing for the second wire having a loop therein and a fixed anchorage, an arm adapted to be moved when excessive strain occurs, a connection between the second wire and this arm, and a connection between the movable end of the second casing and a valve controlling admission of power to the cylinder.

JOHN LOCKHART BRUN TON. WILLIAM BATON BRUN TCN. 

